Read Online The Kindness of Strangers (Skip Langdon Mystery #6) (The Skip Langdon Series) by Julie Smith - Free Book Online

isn’t a teenage crush.”
    “‘Torian.” Sheila’s voice was awestruck. Torian turned back and saw that her face was serious; she wondered if it reflected her own.
    Sheila said, “Your face! It’s different. Torian, have you done it? We said we’d tell each other …”
    “No, no, no. Nothing like that. Do I really look different?” She walked over to the mirror, one she’d salvaged and painted the frame. She looked at her features, slightly indistinct in the dusk, but even she thought there was something romantic about herself.
    She turned to Sheila. This was the part that might hurt her feelings, and she wanted to see her friend’s face while she talked. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you … he made me promise.”
    “Oh, no. Not one of my exes.”
    “Of course not! What kind of friend do you think I lam?”
    “Well, who is it? I’m going to explode if you don’t tell me.”
    “It’s Noel.”
    “Noel? Who’s Noel?”
    “Noel Treadaway.”
    “Mr. Treadaway ?”
    “I swear to God.”
    “The guy you babysit for?”
    “Do you think I’m horrible?”
    Sheila’s face was contorted, like two sides of her were working against each other. “Could I have a cigarette?”
    “I mean it. Do you think I’m horrible?”
    Sheila lit her Virginia Slim slowly, apparently considering. She shook her head finally. “I just think it’s a little weird.”
    Torian shrieked, “Sheeeela!” She was aware of the panic in her voice.
    “I’m trying to think this through, that’s all. I think you’ve got to fill me in.” She puffed nervously, not inhaling, Torian could tell. “Okay, let me see if I can get it. You’re in love with Mr. Treadaway, and he knows it, right?”
    “Noel. Yes, he knows it. He started it. He’s in love with me.”
    “But he’s married.”
    “He’s got a kid, too. I think that’s the hardest part for him.”
    Sheila was leaning her head on a hand. “Wait a minute. Why would a married man with a kid … ?”
    She obviously couldn’t bring herself to say it. “What? Fall for the babysitter? He didn’t plan it, Sheila. It just happened.”
    “You mean, he … like, saw you and got to know you, and then one day just declared himself?”
    “Something like that.”
    Sheila threw herself backwards on the bed, landing with a plop. “God, that’s romantic.”
    “Isn’t it? Isn’t it? I think it’s the most romantic thing in the world.”
    “What do you do with him?”
    “Oh, we have dates after school. He reads to me. Poetry.” She hoped she didn’t look unattractively smug.
    “Oh, my God.”
    “And we kiss. And talk about things. We just talk and talk and talk. I never thought anybody could understand me like …” She saw Sheila’s hurt look and stopped. “I mean a man. And without having to be told. He just knows things about me. Like he’ll say, ‘I’ll bet you’re the kind of person who likes poetry.’ Or ‘You’re going to love this movie. Know what? This movie is meant for you.’ And he’ll be right. He knows me, Sheila. It’s like he sees down to my soul. And he feels that way too. It’s like he’s always saying that. That he really sees me; like no one else does. We’re … you know…God, we’re lucky.”
    Sheila was quiet, apparently still trying to take it all in.
    “You could go all your life without meeting your soul mate, and here I am fifteen and I’ve met mine.”
    “You sure he’s your soul mate? I mean, he’s pretty old.”
    “Age doesn’t matter when you’re really in love.”
    “Oh, come on, you don’t know everything.”
    “But I know so much more than I used to. I feel like I’ve learned half the stuff I know in the last month.”
    “Like what?”
    “Oh, like all the good poets of the twentieth century. And … other stuff.”
    “But what other stuff? I mean, if you’re not even doin’ it, then what?”
    “What it means …” Torian faltered, tears coming, her voice thick. “What it means to be loved.” She